EteoklesEteocles

The eldest son of king Oedipus and Iokaste (Jocasta) of the city of Thebes.

Before Oedipus was born, the oracle at Delphi predicted that he would kill his father and marry his mother; the prophecy came true and the children of this profane union between mother and son were also cursed; Eteokles was the son and brother of Oedipus.

After his father blinded himself and went into exile, Eteokles took control of the government of Thebes; he exiled his brother, Polynikes (Polynices), but when Polynikes returned with seven armies to depose Eteokles they both died on each other’s spear and the rule of Thebes fell to Eteokles’ uncle, Kreon (Creon).

Kreon decreed that Eteokles would receive a hero’s funeral because he was defending Thebes but that Polynikes’ body was to be left to the dogs and vultures because he had come to plunder and destroy Thebes.

Eteokles’ sisters were Ismene and Antigone.